Los Angeles daily herald., 1887-11-03
CA.TARRH.

THE TERN CATARRH IS APPLIED TO A
Il peculiar disorder of the nostrils and ad-
jacent parts, which prevails to an alarming
extent, and is productive of very serious
consequences.
The most prominent and characteristic
feature is a morbid discharge from the head,
varying in its nature at different times.
In some there Is an almost constant flow
OF clear, acrid fluid, but oftener an offensive,
purulent or muco-purulent, greenish-yellow
matter is secreted, which accumulates in
the nostrils or drops into the throat neces-
stating its frequent removal by blowing the
nose or expectoration, and often by both
processes. Sometimes patients feel as
though their head was in a state of rotten
ness, so great is the amount of matter dis
charged and so fetid is its odor The pa
dropping into the throat of the morbid
matter from the head, and as recumbent
position naturally favors the flow downward
his rest is frequently disturbed from this
cause Many sufferers are obliged to lie With
the head very much elevated in order to
sleep with some degree OF comfort.
In others tough, Iviscid and offensive
phlegm collects behind and above the soft
palate, in the passage between the throat and
head, adhering to the parts with gluish tenac-
ity. Its lodgment embarrasses respiration
and creates sensation OF irritation and un-
easiness in the affected locality, which gives
rise to a constant and almost irresistible de-
sire to relieve that discomfort by drawing
the mucus into the throat so as to eject it by
the mouth. This practice, popularly known
as "hawking," is characteristic of catarrh,
and proves as embarrassing to the one af..
fected as it is disagreeable to those around
him.
Again, the offensive matter hardens and
deposits itself on the membrane in the shape
of dry. hard concretions, which are dis
charged by way of the nostrils or throat in
| Jumps or fragments of deep green tint In
| some cases these incrustations accumulate
to such an extent as to form regular plug
| iii the nose, which obstructs breathing and
produce serious discomfort. So firmly do
| these incrustations adhere to the point Of
attachment that their removal usually re-
quires the most violent efforts; not unfre-
quently they have to be torn from the men,
| brane. Occasionally a solid cast of notable
size is expelled, on which there are generally
presents a tubular appearance, being of exact
| shape OF the nasal cavity. This condition is
| indicative OF liberation, which, in time,
| may destroy the bony structure OF the nose
and produce subsequent fattening OF that
organ.
Cases are occasionally met with in which
| thick, yisCid,. Shiny secretion coats the
| putrefies, giving rise to a stencil which is
really oyerpowering, and sufficiently fetid
to poison the atmosphere of whole room;
aud there are Others in which all the secre-
tions OF the membrane are suspended, caus-
ing an unpleasant feeling of dryness, heat
and feyerishness in the head and nOse-a
condition popularly known as DRY
/
The disease speedily extends to the air
| cavities of the bones of the forehead and
| face, giving rise to dist essing sensation OF
heavy weight or compression over the fore
head, especially in the region above and be-
tween the eyes, and tot feeling OF fulness,
heat, irritation, sore ness or pal in the nos
| trils near the root of the nose, as we'll as in
the upper part OF the throat, above and be-
hind the soft palate. Sometimes there is
| pain Obstinately fixed in some particular
part as in the temple, on the top of the
| head, at the back of the neck, or behind the
;,1t orbits, ana, occasionally, eS pain manifests
| that 1t is frequently mistaken for neuralgia
The breath is always tainted, and at times
| assumes an exceeding fetid and sickening
odor. In some cases it becomes so revolt
ingly offensive as to render the sufferer an
others.
The nasal membrane is thickened and
contested, causing the nose to be stopped up,
sometimes on one side, sometimes on the
other, and often on both, giving rise to
dlsaagreeable, stuffy sensation in the head,
and occasioning violent and prolonged
paroxysms OF sneezing
The voice is weak, 1ndistinct and husky,
| or OF nasal character, displaying a sort OF
smiling quality. Oftentimes there is a con-
t1nuous hoarseness and discordance. There
| Is also sense of irritation in the part,
| and frequent attempts to clear the throat of
phlegm, producing the sound "hem," more
or less fOreibly. In some cases patients
complain OF an uncomfortable feeling OF
| fullness, or chOky sensation in the throat,
| and in Others of a distressing and almost
constant dryness for the temporary relief Of
| which they have to swallow frequently
| Others; again, speak of a constant bad or
nauseous taste in the mouth OF throat
The stomach generally suffers more or less
and becomes weak and irritable: the appe-
tite is capricious and nearly always bad in
the morning. The patient is languid, unable
| tGperform mental or physical labor with
the usual facility, is nervous, depressed in
| spirits, at times fearful, timid, agitated and
| inclined to drowsiness and sleep, the mem
ory weakened and permanent impairment
seriously threatened.
The mucous membrane soon becomes
| morbdly sensitive to unfavOrable inf1u-
| ences, and in spite of the utmost care be-
comes affected from the slightest causes, so
| that at last breath Of wind upon the lining
OF the nose or throat becomes productive OF
OF the respiratory organs. Thus the patient
is subject to frequent and repeated colds,
each attack aggravating the disease by CIV
| ing it a new impulse and involving larger
extent of surface than its predecessor. In
this manner the difficulty spreads from or
gan to organ, invading the throat, larnyx,
croaching further and further. it reaches
the finer ramificatiOns of the bronchi, when
but a slight impulse is requixed to send it to
anE IN may az and often does
those containing mucous membrane, such
as the stomach, bowels, kidneys, etc.
By the employment OF proper inhalatlons
in the form of medfcated vapor (not steam
or spray we are able to produce Immediate
and direct action upon the diseased surface
in the pharynx and nasal passages, for air
will find its way into the most remote and
intricate cavities where it is utterly limos.
sible to make fluid applications By these
means every case can be cured.
Persons desiring treatment by this svstem
OF practice can use the remedy at home as
well as at our office, and which will cause
no inconvenience or hindrance to business
l have seen so many of these cases cured
that do not consider any case hopeless IN.
less the disease has advanced TO The chest
and that both lungs are seriously involved.
Even then the inhalations aid us in dis.
sowing the mucus and in contracting ana
neallng the cavities, which nothing else can
no with the same success. The very best
references from those already cured.